Be a VIP at home. Use your best stuff every day

My grandmother bought me a set of 6 china cups and saucers for my 21st birthday. Now I’m 50 but those cups and saucers have been used almost daily. Sure, I lost two cups at some point but it doesn’t really matter. Those objects were given for me to love and enjoy them and I’ve had nearly thirty years worth of enjoyment out of them. Of course I could have kept them safe in bubble-wrap at the back of the cupboard but what would be the point of that? Most of us will happily use supermarket glassware and keep the cut-glass in the cupboard. Why? If you have precious items that you want to use but are worried about them being lost or destroyed consider the following: -Take a really great photograph of the object. If you lose the object you’ll have the photograph forever. -Make sure items are properly insured. -Display them somewhere safe (in a lit cabinet? In a jewellery box?). -Be sensible about their use – don’t give your best cut glasses to the children (although I used to … and my children never broke any). -Don’t put your favourite items in the dishwasher or the washing machine (wash by hand) … I’ll admit I stick most things in the dishwasher but that’s just me! However, once you have decided which precious items to keep, clean them carefully and look after them. -Make sure your antique jewellery has a safety chain fitted (a good jeweller will do this for you). Don’t wear that precious necklace until you get the clasp fixed etc (be sensible about it). Then, once you’ve taken precautions, use and enjoy the items that you love. Granddad would have wanted you to have worn his gold pocket watch occasionally or at least have it placed in a beautiful display box where you can enjoy it every day. For more ideas like this: -How to be a Clutter Clearing Angel: Easy ideas to Organise your Home’ (E-Book by Jacky Newcomb) Jacky is the author of the E-Book: -HOW TO BE A CLUTTER CLEARING ANGEL: Easy ideas to Organise your Home’. She is also a multi-award winning, Sunday Times Best-Selling Author and columnist for Take-a-Break’s Fate & Fortune magazine. She is regularly featured in the national press (Daily Mail, Daily Express, Daily Mirror etc) and Television including ITV’s This Morning and Channel 5 Live. www.JackyNewcomb.com